Officials are probing how a 51-year-old highway bridge came to collapse in the Italian port city of Genoa yesterday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 16 others as it sent dozens of vehicles tumbling into a heap of concrete and twisted steel.

Rudd congratulates Guterres on UN election

Kevin Rudd has congratulated former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres who looks set to come the new head of the United Nations.

The former Australian prime minister, whose nomination was not endorsed by the Turnbull government, says the endorsement by the UN Security Council is a tribute to Mr Guterres and Portugal ahead of a formal vote.